Coupling mechanism for connecting the rear end of a tractor mounted ower plant to a trailer device



July 18, 1950 DUFOUR 2,515,991

COUPLING MECHANISM FOR CONNECTING THE REAR END OF A TRACTOR MOUNTED POWER PLANT TO A TRAILER DEVICE Original Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 18, 1950 DUFOUR 2,515,991

COUPLING MECHANISM FOR CONNECTING THE REAR END OF A TRACTOR MOUNTED POWER Y PLANT To A TRAILER DEVICE Original Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 18, 19

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COUPLING MECHANISM FOR CONNECTING THE BEAR END OF A- TRAC'IDR MOUNTED OVVIIB. PLANT TO A TRAEER DEVICE Leonlluiour, Geneva, Switzerland Original application April 18, 1944, Serial No. 581,638. Divided and this application July 19, 1948, Serial No. 39,388. In Switzerland May 6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to tractors and more particularly to tractors consisting of a duplex chassis, such as described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 531,636, filed April 18, 1944, which became Patent No. 2,475,825, July 12, 1949, and of which this application is a division.

In my prior application there is shown broadly a tractor with a, two part chassis. The first part carries the ground-engaging wheels and the second part carries the power plant of the tractor, including the motor, gear box, etc. This power plant portion orseccnd part is turnable around the rear drive axle of' the ground engaging first part to provide for weight distribution around the rear drive axle by tilting action applied to the said second part. Also extending from the second part is a rigid coupling section adapted to be coupled to the tongue of a trailer formed with a cooperating coupling, all of which when coupled together are rigid in a vertical plane.

It is an object of the present divisional application to provide novel means for turning the .power plant portion or second part of the tractor on the rear drive axle of the tractor, to thereby position the'rigid coupling member of this second part of the tractor into couplingposition with respect to the tongue of the trailer or other device to be coupled therewith. I

For example, in my prior co-pending applica-- tion, to couple the trailer tongue to the rigid coupling of the tractor power plant portion, it is necessary to lift the power plant by means of lifting mechanism bearing against the front wheels or against the ground. Then after coupling the trailer to the rigid coupling of the tractor, it is necessary to withdraw this mechanism in order to permit the tractor to proceedlmder its own power. However, the present invention gives a simple solution to this problem.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide lifting mechanism for tilting the second part carrying the power plant with respect to the ground-engaging first part of the tractor, to whereby not only facilitate couplin and uncoupling of the second part to the tongue of 'a trailer or like vehicle. but to also retain the said second,

part in adjusted angular position with respect to the first part to impart greater weight to the drive wheels and increase adherence thereof. to the ground. v

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed outln'theclaims. 30 rear of the compound coupling bar is at the (Cl. lilo-1i) c a p g In the drawings, like parts throughout the several views are given like numerals and are thus identified in the following detailed description:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an example of a lifting mechanism and coupling bar before hooking up or coupling to a trailer vehicle or implement.

Fig. 2 represents the same detail after coupling and adjustment of the lifting mechanism. 0 Fig. 3 shows another form of lifting mechanism and coupling-bar about to be coupled with an agricultural roto-tlller.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view and section of the lifting mechanism and coupling bar represented in 5 the side view of Figure 3.

All figures are shown schematically andin all 'of them the left-hand rear driving wheels have been omitted in order to increase the clarity of the drawing. go In both forms of the invention the tractor E chassis consists of two hingedly or pivotally connected parts designated generally as A and B; the main part or frame A being conveniently considered fixed relative to the normal plane of travel of the tractor while the auxiliary hinged part B,

which carries the power plant assembly, is angularly movable relative thereto when the tractor is in draft relation to a trailer vehicle or implement,

or, according to one form of the invention may be placed in predetermined angular relation by means adjustably interconnecting the rear of the power plant assembly and the front section of the coupling.

Referring in detail to the drawings and first with particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a coupling bar C, including a front section I0 and a rear section Ma. The front section Iii is pivoted on an axis 2 3. It suilioes to articulate the part ID of the coupling bar 0 for vertical movement around the horizontal axis is arranged in a parallel relation with the axle 3 of the rear wheels 9 of the tractor, this axis 24 being very close to the said axle or even coinciding with the same. and to connect said coupling bar 0 to the hinged part 'B of the tractor through regulating means, such for example as a screw-mechanism 2i, preferably non-reversible, connecting this compound coupling bar C to an extension at towards the rear of the hinged part B.

to In order to attach a trailer vehicle, such as a 1 cart II to the tractor, the hinged part B will at first be left to rest upon its chassis-or fixed part A, while the screw-mechanism it will be so adjusted that the-notched or forked part its of the 1 same level as the tongue ii of the cart I! and aligned with same, as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted, from this figure that the hinged part B bears against'the chassis I of the fixed tractor part A through the support 8' forming part of the gear box 8. The coupling bar C may then be connected with the tongue of the cart, whereby it will be eventually necessary to continue to adjust the height of the coupling bar in order to facilitate this operation. It should be noted, that the longitudinal axis through the coupling bar C and the tongue I5 is not necessary horizontal, but may have a more or, less oblique (slanting) position as shown 'in Figures 1 and 2. The coupling operation having been accomplished, the screw-mechanism 2|, anchored to the coupling bar C through section It now rigidly connected to the tongue l5 of the cart, will be operated in such a manner by turning hand wheel 2la as to move in a downward direction the rear extension 22 of the hinged part B ofthe tractor, at the same time lifting the motor I and the gear box 8 to the desired position, forming the tilting angle a, Fig. 2, with the original rest position, Fig. 1.

The hinged part lifting mechanism generally referred to above as the screw-mechanism 2|," comprises screw threaded shaft with a hand wheel 2la keyed to its upper end. This screw shaft 2| threads through 9. lug 2lb formed from the side of extension 22 when the hand wheel is turned. Thelower end of the screw shaft 2| is pivotally connected at 24a. around a lug 24b formed in coupling bar part l carried by the. rear end of the power plant.

It will be noted from the two Figures 1 and 2, that in order to articulate the front end III of the coupling bar C around the axis -24 forming part of the hinged part B of the tractor and being placed very close to the axle of the wheels, a recess 23 must be provided in the body of the hinged part B of the tractor as shown by dotted lines in the aforementioned two drawings.

In addition to the embodiment shown and described in connection with the first two figures of the drawings, there is illustrated another embodiment in Figures 3 and 4.

. If it is desired to have the axis 24 coincide with the axle of the rear wheels, a still much bigger recess 25 must be provided in the body of the hinged part B of the tractor as is shown as a matter of example in the Figures 3 and 4. These figures show an alternative design of the mechanism for tilting the hinged part B of the tractor with respect to the coupling bar C. In this alternative form two toothed sectors 26 are fastened to either side of the extension 22 of the hinged part B and to 'either side of the lower part 22' of the rear end of the gear-box, their center coinciding with the articulation axis 24 of the coupling bar C. These two sectors engage with two pinions 21 mounted on a single shaft, the bearings of the latter being fixed to the coupling bar front section III. In Figure 3 only the left-handsector and pinionar'e shown. A worm-gear 28, indicated by a dottedv circle in the interior of its housing 29, is keyed to the shaft carrying the two pinions 21 and is driven by means of a worm 28 of preferably non-reversible design connected to a hand wheel 30. The pinions 21, their shaft and the housing 29 forming part of the coupling bar front section ill, make it possible to tilt the hinged part B of the tractor, provided the coupling bar C, is fastened to the tongue I of a cart It, in exactly the same manner as shown- 4 in Figure 2. The two toothed sections may at the same time serve as lateral guides for the front section l0 of the coupling bar C as indicated in 26' in Fig. 4, since the said coupling bar must be able to resist the side-thrust during turns.

In certain cases it will be an advantage to be able to tilt the hinged part B of the tractor, even when the coupling bar C is not connected to the tongue ii'o'f the cart I tor of the drawn vehicle. Such is the case for example, when it is desired 7 to attach certain tools such as a rotating cultivator (rota-tiller) to 'the flange 3| attached to the rear end 22 of the hinged part B of the tractor, this flange 3| containing a rotative lock (Fig.3). To these ends, the chassis I of the tractor is lengthened beyond the axle of driving wheels by means of an arm 36 to the end of which an apertured lug 35a of the coupling bar portion l0 may at times be anchored by a pin 35. If the mechanism 21, 28, 30 is operated under these conditions, the hinged part of the tractor is tilted upwards because of the force acting in an upward direction upon the pin 35 in lug 35a and the arm 36. It is thus possible to lower the flange 3| fixed to the rear 22 of the hinged part of the tractor and to couple without difllculty the pin 33 and the flange 34 of the implement, the latter forming some kind of a cylinder and bearing against the ground at 31. This method avoids need of having to lift the always very heavy rote-tiller above ground-level in order to be able to couple same to the rear of the tractor/ After the coupling operation is accomplished the pin 35 is withdrawn in order to liberate again the hinged part B- of the tractor to the rear end of which is attached the implement. The sequence of operations is reversed for uncoupling the rote-tiller from the tractor.

While only two embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, it is to be expressly understood that various constructions and arrangements of the parts may now be resorted Y H) by Others skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope of the present invention. To

determine the scope of the present invention,

reference should be had to the appended claims.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a tractor having a chassis consisting of awheeled frame including rear drive wheels and a power plant assembly movably mounted on an axis coinciding with the axis of said rear drive wheels, a draft coupling for a trailer device, said coupling comprising; a front section, a rear section, a vertical pivot joining the inner ends of said sections, means for pivotally connecting the front section to the movable power plant assembly, means for rigidly connecting in a vertical plane the rear section to. a trailer device,

and means for interconnectin .thepoweriplant assemblyand the front section'of the coupling to maintain the same inselected angular relation when the rear section is con'nected with a trailer device, to thereby impart greater weight to the drive Wheels and increase adherence thereof to the ground.

2. A tractor having a chassis including a wheeled frame having rear. drivewheels, and a power plant assembly provided at its front end with means for resting on said frame and provided at its rear end with means for swingably mounting the same coaxially with the axis of the said rear drive wheels of the tractor, and a draft coupling for a trailer device, said coupling comprising: a front section engaged with the rear ofthe power plant assembly, a rear section having means for rigidly connecting in a vertical plane with a trailer device, a vertical pivot for articulating the inner end ofsaid sections, and means for adjustably connecting the front section of the coupling with the rear end of the power plant assembly when the rear section of the coupling is connected to a trailer device thereby to vary the angle of said power plant assembly relative to the frame and the front section of the couplin and shift the weight of said power plant assembly to the axle for the rear drive wheels, whereby there is an increased adherence thereof to the ground.

3. A tractor having a chassis including a wheeled frame having rear drive wheels, and a power plant assembly provided at its front end with means for resting on said frame and provided at its rear end with means for swingably mounting the same on the axle of the said rear drive wheels of the tractor, and a draft coupling for rigidly connecting in a vertical plane a trailer device, said coupling comprising: a rear section articulated with a front section pivotally connected at its front end to the rear end of the power plant assembly, means for adjustably connecting the front section of the conpling to the rear end of the power plant assembly including a screw shaft pivoted at its lower end to said front section, and a handwheel operated nut device carried by the rear end of the power plant assembly and engaging said screw shaft, whereby, the turning of said nut device on the shaft varies the angular relation of the rear end of the power plant assembly and the front section of the coupling when the rear section of the coupling is connected to a trailer device. I

4. A tractor having a chassis including a wheeled frame having rear drive wheels, and a power plant assembly provided at its front end with means for resting on said frame and provided at its rear end with means for swingably mounting the same coaxially with the axis of the said rear drive wheels of the tractor, and a draft coupling for rigidly connecting a vertical plane, a trailer device, said coupling comprising: a front section, a rear section, a vertical pivot pin connecting the inner ends of said sections, said front section being pivotally mounted coaxially with the axis of "the rear drive wheels of the chassis frame, a pair of toothed sectors carried by the rear end of the motor assembly, said sectors being formed on an arc whose center coincides with the axis of the rear drive wheels of the tractor, a pair of pinions engaging said sectors, a shaft for said pinions :Iournaled in the front section of the coupling, and hand-operated gear means also carried by the front section of the coupling for operating said shaft, whereby rotation of the said shaft and pinions will cause the pinions engaging said sectors to vary the angular relation of the front section of the coupling and the rear end of the power plant assembly when the rear section of the coupling is connected with a trailer device.

5. In a tractor having a chassis consisting of a wheeled frame including rear drive wheels and a power plant assembly movably mounted on an axis coinciding with the axis of said rear drive wheels, a draft coupling for a trailer device, said coupling comprising: a front section, a rear section, a vertical pivot joining the inner ends of said sections, means for pivotally supporting the forward end of the front section coaxially with the axis of the rear drive wheels, means for rigidly connecting in a vertical plane the rear section to a trailer device, means for adjustably interconnecting the power plant assembly and the front section, and means for anchoring the front section of the coupling to'a fixed part of the chassis while the rear section of the coupling is disconnected from a trailer device.

6. In a tractor having a chassis consisting of a wheeled frame including rear drive wheels and a power plant assembly movably mounted on an axis coinciding with the axis of said rear drive wheels, a draft coupling for a, trailer device, said coupling comprising; a front section, a rear section, a vertical pivot joining the inner ends of said sections, means for pivotally supporting the forward end of the front section coaxially with the axis of the rear drive wheels, means for rigidly connecting in a vertical plane the rear section to a trailer device, and means for adjustably interconnecting the power plant assembly and the front section, and means for anchoring the front section of the coupling to a fixed part of the chassis to permit said last-named means to vary the angular relation of the rear end of the power plant assembly and front section of the coupling while the rear section of the latter is not connected with a trailer device, said means comprising a rearwardly extending arm on the frame of the chassis having an opening at its rear extremity and a depending portion of the front section of the coupling also having an opening adapted to register with the first-mentioned opening, and a pin insertable in said openings when in registry.

LEON DUFOUR.

REFERENCES strap The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,408,895 Lamoreaux et a1. Mar. '7, 1922 2,035,150 Dufour Mar. 24, 1936 2,429,711 Dufour Oct. 28, 194? 

